Symptoms

The symptoms of osteosarcoma depend on the bone in which the cancer developed. Children with osteosarcoma may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, children with osteosarcoma do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your child’s doctor.

• Pain in a bone or joint that gets worse over time
  
  
• Painless swelling or a noticeable mass (lump) in an arm or leg
  
  
• A broken bone with no injury to explain how it occurred
  
  
• Stiffness or swelling of joints (not a common symptom)
  
  
• Back pain or a loss of bowel or bladder control (if the tumor is in the pelvis or at the base of the spine; not a common early symptom)